Reverse curvature windshield cleaning tool

ABSTRACT

A cleaning tool includes a handle having first and second ends and upper and lower surfaces extending between the first and second ends. The major portion of the upper surface is convex and a major portion of the lower surface is concave. A cleaning head hingedly secures to the handle proximate the second end and is positioned above the upper surface of the handle. The upper surface of the cleaning surface adapted for removing dust and dirt. The point of hinged securement is eccentric such that the area of the cleaning surface extending away from the handle is greater than the area of the cleaning surface between the first and second ends of the handle. A layer of compressible material secures to the board portion between the board portion and the absorptive material. The compressible material has a radius of curvature chosen to conform to an automobile windshield.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates generally to cleaning tools, and, more particularly, to cleaning tools for cleaning an automobile windshield.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The interior surface of an automobile windshield often bears a build-up of haze. The haze may be the result of condensation or the deposit of an oil-based residue from plasticizers used in components of the automobile interior. This build up of haze results in unsafe driving due to impaired visibility.

In many modem cars it is becoming increasingly difficult to clean the interior of the windshield. In the typical “cab-forward” designs, the windshield extends far in front of the rear edge of the dashboard. Furthermore, the typical windshield is curved in one or more dimensions.

In view of the foregoing, it would be an advancement in the art to provide a tool for cleaning an automobile windshield. The device should be easy to use and be ergonomic, such that the user need not reach or adopt a contorted position in order to clean the windshield.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A cleaning tool includes a handle having first and second ends and upper and lower surfaces extending between the first and second ends. The major portion of the upper surface is convex and a major portion of the lower surface is concave. A cleaning head secures to the handle proximate the second end and is positioned above the upper surface of the handle. The cleaning head may hingedly mount to the upper surface. The point of hinged securement is eccentric such that the area of the upper surface extending away from the handle is greater than the area of the upper surface between the first and second ends of the handle. An upper surface of the cleaning head bears an absorptive material. The cleaning head includes a board portion bearing the absorptive material, the edges of the board typically slope upward toward the upper surface. A layer of compressible material secures to the board portion between the board portion and the absorptive material. The compressible material has a radius of curvature chosen to conform to an automobile windshield.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Preferred and alternative embodiments of the present invention are described in detail below with reference to the following drawings:

FIGS. 1A and 1B are side views of a windshield cleaning tool in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the windshield cleaning tool in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 3 is an end view of a the windshield cleaning tool in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a windshield cleaning tool bearing a removable cleaning surface; and

FIG. 5 is a side view of a windshield cleaning tool cleaning an automobile windshield in accordance with the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Referring to FIGS. 1A, 1B, and 2, a windshield cleaning tool 10 includes a handle 12 and a cleaning head 14. The handle 12 includes an upper surface 16 and a lower surface 18 extending between a first end 20 and a second end 22. A grip portion 24 is secured to, or formed on, the handle 12 near the first end 20. The grip portion may be textured, contoured, or both to facilitate gripping in a user's hand. A mount portion 26 is secured to, or formed on, the handle 12 near the second end 22. The grip portion 24 has a longitudinal axis 28 and the mount portion 26 has a longitudinal axis 30. The axes 28, 30 are angled with respect to one another such that the portions of the lower surface 18 on the grip portion 24 and mount portion 26 face inwardly toward one another. The inner angle between the axes 28, 30 is typically between 125 and 175 degrees, and preferably between 145 and 160 degrees. The portion of the handle 12 between the grip and mount portions 24, 26 may be substantially straight or slightly curved. Alternatively, as shown in FIG. 1B, the handle 12 includes upper surface 16 that is convex and a lower surface 18 that is concave along most of the length of the handle 12. Near the grip portion 24, the handle 12 has a much smaller radius of curvature. The radius of curvature near the grip portion 24 is typically between 1.5 and 8 inches, and is preferably between 2 and 6 inches. The greater part of the handle 12 between the grip portion 24 and cleaning head 14, other than the portion immediately adjacent the grip portion 24, has a radius of curvature between 3 and 10 feet, preferably between 6 and 4 feet. The radius of curvature is not necessarily constant, but rather may vary along the length, though the handle 12 preferably has a concave lower surface and a convex upper surface along its entire length. The handle 12 may have a round, square, or other cross section. The cross section may vary along the length of the handle 12.

The cleaning head 14 secures to the mount portion 26 and has an upper surface 32. A cleaning surface 32 including texturing, fabric, bristles, or the like suitable for cleaning an automobile windshield secures to the upper surface of the cleaning head. Positioning the cleaning head 14 having the upper surface of an angled handle 12 enables a user to readily position against the inner surface of a windshield while maintaining the hand and wrist in a natural position.

The cleaning head 14 pivotally mounts to the handle 12 at a point of pivotal securement 24. The point of pivotal securement is offset a distance 36 from the center of the cleaning surface 32, such that the portion of the cleaning surface 32 extending outwardly from the second end 22 is greater than the distance between the first end 20 and second end 22. In the illustrated embodiment, the handle 12 pivotally secures to a projection 38 secured to the cleaning head. Pivotally mounting the cleaning head 14 to the handle 12 enables the head 14 to pivot to maintain the cleaning surface 32 in contact with an automobile windshield as the user urges the cleaning head from proximate the roof toward the junction of the dashboard and windshield. Eccentric mounting of the handle 12 to the cleaning head 14 ensures that structures mounting the handle 12 to the cleaning head 14 will not interfere with the dashboard of an automobile when the cleaning head 14 is positioned to clean the windshield near the junction between the windshield and the dashboard. To further reduce interference with the dashboard, the projection 38 has a beveled or rounded leading edge as illustrated.

Referring to FIG. 3, while still referring to FIGS. 1A and 1B, the cleaning head 14 may have a sloped or beveled leading edge 40 a such that the leading edge 40 a can be forced well into the junction between the windshield and dashboard to clean accumulated dust and debris. Lateral edges 40 b, 40 c may likewise be beveled or sloped to facilitate cleaning in crevices. The corners of the cleaning head 14 are typically somewhat rounded to accommodate the rounded corners of the typical windshield.

A pad 42 of compressible material secures between the cleaning surface 32 of the cleaning head 14 and a substantially rigid support member 44. The pad 42 is typically formed of open or closed cell foam, rubber, or other compressible polymer. The pad 42 is typically curved in the plane of FIG. 3, which is perpendicular to the plane in which the first and second ends 20, 22 of the handle 12 lie. The compressible material may itself be curved or have substantially uniform thickness and secure to an upper surface of the cleaning head that is itself curved. In alternative embodiments, the cleaning head 14 has a curved upper surface without the use of a compressible material. The radius of curvature is chosen such that it substantially conforms to an average windshield. The radius of curvature may be chosen to conform to windshields installed in automobiles of a certain class. For example, the radius may be sized specifically for compact cars, midsize cars, large trucks, or the like. In one embodiment, the radius of curvature of the pad 42 is between 7 and 2 feet. In a preferred embodiment, the radius of curvature of the pad 42 is between 8 and 18. In still other embodiments, a pad 42 suitable for use with a typical midsize car has a radius of about 20 feet, whereas a pad 42 suitable for use with a typical pick-up truck has a radius of curvature of about 7 to 8 feet.

The projection 38 may be formed in multiple sections 38 a-38 c. The end of the handle 12 may bear corresponding projections 44 a, 44 b, sized to fit within the projections 38 a, 38 b and the projections 38 b, 38 c. An aperture 46 extends through the projections 38 b, 38 c, 44 a, 44 b. The aperture 46 extends partially through the projection 44 a and includes a threaded inner surface 48 within the projection 38 a. A pin 50 having a threaded end 52 inserts into the aperture 46 and threads into the threaded inner surface 48. Lateral surfaces 54 a, 54 b of the projections 38 a, 38 c may be sloped to reduce interference of the projections 38 a, 38 c with the dashboard of an automobile when cleaning the windshield.

Referring to FIG. 4, the cleaning surface 32 may secure to the cleaning head 14 by means of a band of material 56 secured around the edge of the cleaning surface 32 and positonable over the lower surface of the cleaning head 14. An elastic band 58 secures around the edge of the band of material 56. The handle 12 protrudes through an opening defined by the band of material 56. The cleaning surface 32 may secured to a layer of compressible material or itself be compressible such that a layer of compressible material 42 is not secured to the cleaning head 14.

Referring to FIG. 5, the novel configuration of the windshield cleaning tool 10 enables the cleaning head 14 to be moved in a direction 60 substantially from the back to the front of the windshield. In this manner, the user is readily able to transmit force to the cleaning head. The beveled edge of the cleaning head 14 enables cleaning near the junction of the windshield with the dashboard. The novel curved handle 12 avoids interference with the steering wheel of the vehicle.

While the preferred embodiment of the invention has been illustrated and described, as noted above, many changes can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Accordingly, the scope of the invention is not limited by the disclosure of the preferred embodiment. Instead, the invention should be determined entirely by reference to the claims that follow. 

1. A cleaning tool comprising: a handle having first and second ends and upper and lower surfaces extending between the first and second ends, wherein a major portion of the upper surface is convex and a major portion of the lower surface is concave; and a cleaning head secured to the handle proximate the second end positioned above the upper surface of the handle having an upper surface bearing an absorptive material and facing away from the upper surface.
 2. The cleaning tool of claim 1, wherein the cleaning head comprises a board portion bearing the absorptive material, the edges of the board sloping upward to the board absorptive material.
 3. The cleaning tool of claim 1, wherein the board comprises a beveled edge.
 4. The cleaning tool of claim 1, wherein the cleaning head hingedly mounts to the convex upper surface.
 5. The cleaning tool of claim 4, wherein the handle secures to the cleaning head at a point of securement located eccentric from a center of area of the upper surface of the cleaning head.
 6. The cleaning tool of claim 5, wherein the upper surface of the cleaning head comprises first and second portions, the first portion being positioned between the first and second ends and the second portion extending away from the handle, the second portion being substantially larger than the first portion.
 7. The cleaning tool of claim 5, wherein the cleaning head bears first second and third projections and wherein the handle bears first and second projections positioned among the first second and third projections, a pin extending through the first, second, and third projections of the cleaning head and first and second projections of the handle.
 8. The cleaning tool of claim 1, wherein the absorptive material comprises a border portion positionable proximate a lower surface of the cleaning head to retain the absorptive material over the cleaning head.
 9. The cleaning tool of claim 1, wherein the cleaning head comprises a compressible material secured beneath the absorptive material.
 10. The cleaning tool of claim 9, wherein the compressible material has a curved upper surface.
 11. The cleaning tool of claim 10, wherein the first and second ends lie in a first plane, the curved upper surface is curved in a plane perpendicular to the first plane.
 12. A cleaning tool comprising: a handle having first and second ends and upper and lower surfaces extending between the first and second ends, the handle further comprising a grip portion positioned proximate the first end and a mount portion positioned proximate the second end, the grip portion having a longitudinal axis angled with respect to a longitudinal axis of the mount portion, the portion of the lower surface proximate the grip and mount portions facing inwardly toward one another; and a cleaning head secured to the handle proximate the second end positioned above the upper surface of the handle having an upper surface bearing an absorptive material and facing away from the upper surface.
 13. The cleaning tool of claim 12, wherein the cleaning head comprises a board portion bearing the absorptive material, the edges of the board sloping upward to the board absorptive material.
 14. The cleaning tool of claim 12, wherein the board comprises a beveled edge.
 15. The cleaning tool of claim 12, wherein the cleaning head hingedly mounts to the convex upper surface.
 16. The cleaning tool of claim 15, wherein the handle secures to the cleaning head at a point of securement located eccentric from a center of area of the upper surface of the cleaning head.
 17. The cleaning tool of claim 16, wherein the upper surface of the cleaning head comprises first and second portions, the first portion being positioned between the first and second ands and the second portion extending away from the handle, the second portion being substantially larger than the first portion.
 18. A method for cleaning a windshield comprising: providing a handle having first and second ends and upper and lower surfaces extending between the first and second ends, wherein the upper surface is convex and the lower surface is concave; providing a cleaning head secured to the handle proximate the second end positioned above the upper surface of the handle having an upper surface bearing an absorptive material and facing away from the upper surface; gripping the handle proximate the first end; and urging the handle toward an automobile windshield to urge the absorptive material along an automobile windshield.
 19. The method of claim 18, wherein the cleaning head hingedly mounts to the convex upper surface, the method further comprises pivoting the cleaning head to maintain the absorptive material in contact with the windshield.
 20. The method of claim 19, wherein the cleaning head comprises a compressible material secured beneath the absorptive material, the compressible having a curved upper surface substantially conforming to a radius of curvature of the windshield, the method further comprising compressing the compressible material to further conform the compressible material to the windshield. 